Trouble with the Jews
Sirat p. 363, Tabari VII p. 85
Muhammad remained in Medina after his return from Badr. When he first came to Medina, he had made a compact with its Jews that they would not aid anyone against him and that if any enemy attacked him there, they would come to his aid. After Muhammad killed many polytheists of Quraysh at Badr, (the Jews) were envious and behaved badly towards him, saying: "Muhammad has not met anyone who is good at fighting. Had he met us, he would have had a battle which would be unlike a battle with anyone else." They also infringed the contract in various ways.
While it was true that the merchants the Muslims met at Badr were not great fighters, it seems a bit unlikely that envy was the main emotion among the Jews. The infringements of their treaty with Muhammad are not elaborated.
Muhammad assembled the Jews in the Market of the Banu Qaynuqa and said: "O Jews, beware lest God bring on you the like of the retribution which he brought on Quraysh. Accept Islam, for you know that I am a prophet sent by God. You will find this in your scriptures and in God's covenant with you."
Some people have said that Islamist fundamentalists have hijacked a peaceful religion and turned it violent. It looks like they are right, albeit not quite in the way they intended. Muhammad has no reservations about taking over the Jewish covenant with their God, nor threatening them with death.
They replied: "Muhammad, do you think that we are like your people? Do not be deluded by the fact that you met a people with no knowledge of war and that you made good use of your opportunity. By God, it you fight us, you will know that we are real men!"
The Jews, who know perfectly well what Muhammad and the Muslims did at Badr, are not giving up their religion or their independence just like that.
Gabriel brought the following verse down to Muhammad:
Quran 8:58: If you fear treachery from any people throw back (their covenant) to them on equal terms. Certainly Allâh likes not the treacherous.
When Gabriel had finished delivering this verse, Muhammad said: "I fear the Banu Qaynuqa."
Quite convenient and timely. But surely, what Muhammad fears cannot be sufficient reason to onesidedly discard the treaty he entered at most two years earlier? To understand this verse better, let us bring in some context:
Quran 8:55: Verily, the worst of moving creatures before Allâh are those who disbelieve, – so they shall not believe.
Waitaminute. That does not leave the disbelievers much of a chance...
Quran 8:56: They are those with whom you made a covenant, but they break their covenant every time and they do not fear Allâh.
The covenant breaches attributed to the Jews have still not been detailed. Possibly they're assumed to be well known, for one cannot expect a true prophet to make deceitful claims on such an important issue. That the Jews do not fear Allah is hardly surprising, of course. They are fine with the God they have worshipped for a millenium.
Quran 8:57: So if you gain the mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them, so that they may learn a lesson.
Quran 8:58: If you fear treachery from any people throw back (their covenant) to them on equal terms. Certainly Allâh likes not the treacherous.
Here's the justification for waging war on the Jews, and to punish them sincerely. Jesus probably would have taken a different approach.
Quran 8:59: And let not those who disbelieve think that they can outstrip (escape from the punishment). Verily, they will never be able to save themselves (from Allâh's punishment).
Allah indeed is a very severe punisher. There is little forgiveness possible in this scenario. On the other hand, it provides justification for what comes next:
Quran 8:60: And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery) to threaten thereby the enemy of Allâh and your enemy, and others besides them, whom you may not know, whom Allâh does know. And whatever you shall spend in the Cause of Allâh, shall be repaid to you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.
Looks like those who claim Islam to be a religion of peace are mistaken. Since Sura 8 is unabrogated scripture, this has priority over all peaceful verses in the Quran. The commentators from the University of Medina found it appropriate to point out that this applies in modern times as well, providing religious justification for forces like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Quran 8:61: But if they incline to peace, you (also) incline to it, and trust in Allâh. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.
Since we just saw a glimpse of what happens to disbelievers, the peace mentioned here is under the assumption that the infidels submit to Islam and obey Muhammad.
It was on the basis of this verse [8:58] that Muhammad advanced upon them.
OK, so the fear that the Jews possibly would break the treaty was enough for Muhammad to do so? Most people probably would have contacted the tribe and talked matters over before laying siege to them.
The siege
Sirat p. 363, Tabari p. 86
Muhammad besieged them for fifteen days and prevented any of them from getting out. They then surrendered at the discretion of Muhammad. They were fettered, and he wanted to kill them, but Abd Allah b. Ubayy spoke to him on their behalf.
Muhammad besieged them until they surrendered at his discretion. Abd Allah b. Ubayy rose up when Allah had put them in his power, and said: "Muhammad, treat my mawali well"; for they were confederates of al-Khazraj. Muhammad delayed his answer.
Muhammad is very reluctant to do so. But Abd Allah continues to beg.
"Muhammad, treat my mawali well." Muhammad turned away from him, and the put his hand into Muhammad's collar. Muhammad said: "Let me go!" - he was so angry that they could see shadows in his face. Then he said: "Damn you, you treat my mawali well. Four hundred men without armour and three hundred with coats of mail, who defended me from the Arab and the non-Arab alike, and you would mow them down in a single morning? By Allah, I do not feel safe and am afraid of what the future may have in store." So Muhammad said: "They are yours."
Muhammad had intended to kill the captured men of the Banu Qaynuqa tribe for their (percieved) treachery. Only a very insisting intervention by a person with better ethics averts the disaster. Possibly this recently revealed verse (after the battle of Badr) weighs heavily on Muhammad:
Quran 8:67: It is not for a Prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he had made a great slaughter in the land. You desire the good of this world, but Allâh desires the Hereafter. And Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
That's clear. Allah desires death, more than prisoners and ransom. This is different from most other religions.
Muhammad said: "Let them go; may Allah curse them, and may he curse [Abd Allah b. Ubayy] with them." So the Muslims let them go.
While the Jews are not exactly going with the best of wishes, at least they get out of the trap.
The booty
Tabari p. 87
Then Muhammad gave orders to expel them, and Allah gave their property as booty to Muhammad and the Muslims.
While the wrongdoing on the part of the Jews is still not made clear, the punishment they received is. The Quran has some contradictory comments on the booty situation:
Quran 8:68: Were it not a previous ordainment from Allâh, a severe torment would have touched you for what you took.
Quran 8:69: So enjoy what you have gotten of booty in war, lawful and good, and be afraid of Allâh. Certainly, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Fearing Allah is a duty for the believers. Yet, we also see Allah in the role of the Oft-Forgiving, and the Muslims get to keep what they steal. And we see Allah permitting theft and robbery. That's strange, as only wild warlords would usually act like this.
The Banu Qaynuqa did not have any land, as they were goldsmiths. Muhammad took many weapons belonging to them and the tools of their trade.
The weapons will benefit the Muslims in future battles. No need for remorse over this enrichment, Allah is Oft-Forgiving.
In this year, the first khums (fifth) to be levied by Muhammad in Islam took place. Muhammad took his safi, the khums and his share, and distributed the other four fifths among his companions. This was the first khums to be taken by Muhammad.
This became a firm part of Islam, to the extent that it obtained the status of one of the five pillars in some early rendentions of them, before the pagan-style pilgrimage replaced it. The taking of 20 percent of any booty for Muhammad was earlier proposed in the first successful Muslim raid (in the Holy Month), and became a firm tradition with the revelation the Spoils of War sura (8). There is even a specific term (khums) for the prophet's share of plunder.
